Batu Caves With A Giant Murugan – Things To Do In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Batu Caves are natural caverns on a limestone hill just on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. As you drive towards them you do not even realize that you have stepped out of the city. The only sign that tells you that caves may be around is the appearance of a rocky hillock. Finally, when you reach the caves, it is the giant idol of Murugan in golden color that catches your eye. And you know you have reached the destination. The idol facing the city with its back towards the caves appears to be guarding the cave and overlooking the city.

Steps leading to the Limestone Caves

Batu Caves Tour – Things to do in Kuala Lumpur

The mouth of the cave is almost on top of the hill and you have to take a flight of 272 steps to reach the entrance. White and red steps appear like a smooth sliding board from a distance. But can be a daunting task to climb if you are not in the best of health. At the cave entrance, you find shops that are typically outside temples shops. Selling flowers, toys and psychedelic pictures of various avatars of the Gods and Goddesses. A multi-colored toran welcomes you at the entrance before you enter the dark and high cave. After crossing the huge hall, you can see another red and white stairs guiding you to a temple. A devotional atmosphere exists in the cave, with a lot of hustle and bustle. Like most south Indian temples and the natural feel of the cave is kind of lost.

View from atop

Natural Caverns

Like Borra caves in Araku Valley, these caves also have a hole in their ceiling and that brings in some light and a lot of play of light. The cave is very damp and water-dropping here and there tells you that it is a living cavern, still on its path of creating its new self.This is the only thing that reminds you that these are natural caverns. That took some 400 million years to form. Most stalactite and stalagmite formations on the lower levels are lost due to constant touch. But they can be seen high up on the ceilings that are beyond human reach on a day-to-day basis. Batu caves get their name from the river by the same name that flows around it, but I could not see any river there.

Souvenirs on sale at the market

Around the hill, tourist economy ensures good parking space, public transport connectivity and a range of eating options. If you go from India, you can get the regular Tamil food here, and if you can speak Tamil you will get some smiles as well.

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